Femto jamming of macro pilot

ABSTRACT

A system and methodology that facilitates triggering device scanning and efficient femtocell detection in areas dominated by macro cells is provided. In particular, the system can includes a jamming component that generates a small and measured amount of interference to user equipment or user equipments (UEs) camping on nearby macro carriers. Moreover, the power utilized to introduce the interference can be enough to cause macro signal quality around the femtocell access point (AP) to fall below a scan trigger level. The UE(s) can detect the macro signal quality decline below the scan trigger level and scan other frequency bands, including the femtocell, on which to camp. Additionally, the system can perform femto pilot gating, such that the jamming component can scan the radio environment surrounding the femto AP during an off state, to determine information that facilitates jamming of a macro pilot.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to wireless communications and, moreparticularly, to a mechanism that facilitates quality-based handsetscanning in areas where macro cell coverage is sufficiently strong forcommunication.

BACKGROUND

Femtocells—building-based wireless access points interfaced with a wiredbroadband network—are traditionally deployed to improve indoor wirelesscoverage, and to offload a mobility radio access network (RAN) operatedby a wireless service provider. Improved indoor coverage includesstronger signal and improved reception (e.g., voice, sound, or data),ease of session or call initiation, and session or call retention aswell. Offloading a RAN reduces operational and transport costs for theservice provider since a lesser number of end users utilizesover-the-air radio resources (e.g., radio frequency channels), which aretypically limited. With the rapid increase in utilization ofcommunications networks and/or devices, mobile data communications havebeen continually evolving due to increasing requirements of workforcemobility, and, services provided by femtocells can be extended beyondindoor coverage enhancement; for example, femtocells can be utilized inareas wherein macro coverage is not poor or weak.

Typically, femto and macro networks utilize different frequency bands.Moreover, user equipment (UE), such as Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) handsets, can access a macro networkand scan for a different carrier when the signal strength of the macronetwork degrades below a specific threshold. However, conventional UEsdo not scan other frequency bands when radio conditions are ideal and/orthe received signal strength from the macro network is strong, forexample, above the specific threshold. In this manner, the UEs can savebattery resources that would otherwise be wasted by continuous and/orperiodic scanning.

During this traditional approach, the UEs fail to detect or access femtonetworks placed within ideal/strong macro coverage areas, leading tounder-utilization of the femto networks. Thus, the femto networks areunable to deliver the anticipated customer and service provider benefitsto the UEs. Moreover, the inability to detect and/or access a femtocell,when the macro cell signal strength environment received at a UE isstrong, can negatively impact performance and customer satisfaction.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the specification inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of thespecification. This summary is not an extensive overview of thespecification. It is intended to neither identify key or criticalelements of the specification nor delineate any scope particularembodiments of the specification, or any scope of the claims. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts of the specification in a simplifiedform as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presentedlater.

The systems and methods disclosed herein, in one aspect thereof, canfacilitate efficient utilization of a femto network, by a user equipment(UE), when a macro network signal quality received at the UE is strongand/or satisfactory. According to one aspect, a femto access point (AP)can include a jamming component, which can be employed to introduceconditions that facilitate triggering a carrier frequency scan by theUE. The carrier frequency scan can facilitate detection of the femtocellby the by UE. Specifically, the jamming component can scan a radioenvironment near the femto AP, for example, upon power-up, periodically,and/or on demand, to identify one or more macro network carriers thatprovide UEs with ideal radio conditions for communication. Based in parton a determined macro carrier signal strength of the one or more macrocarriers, the jamming component can determine a measured amount ofinterference that can trigger the carrier frequency scan at the UEs. Inone aspect, the jamming component facilitates transmission of theinterference at regular intervals, such that, the interference can causemacro signal quality to decline below a scan level threshold and the UEcan perform the carrier frequency scan. The carrier frequency scan canfacilitate detection of the femto network and the UE can communicatewith the femto AP for attachment.

In accordance with another aspect, a transmission component can beemployed that can facilitate femto pilot gating. Moreover, thetransmission component can enable a pilot signal transmitter at thefemtocell to alternate between high power and off states, according to adefined duty cycle, sequence and/or pattern. In one aspect, a radioenvironment detection component can scan the radio environmentsurrounding the femto AP during the off state, to facilitateinterference measurements and/or generate an optimal interference value.

Yet another aspect of the disclosed subject matter relates to a methodthat can be employed to facilitate jamming of a strong macro carriersignal. Specifically, the method comprises determining that a femto APis idle and performing jamming of a macro carrier signal that surroundsthe femtocell, when the femto AP is idle. In one aspect, the jammingincludes identifying a strong macro carrier signal and introducing asmall and measured amount of interference, in a manner such that, themacro carrier signal quality declines enough to trigger a carrierfrequency scan at a UE, attached to the macro network, without degradingor killing communications between the UE and the macro network.Additionally, the method comprises performing femto pilot gating byalternating between a high power and an off state during transmission.Further, radio conditions, for example, surrounding the femto AP, can bescanned during the off state of the transmissions to identify one ormore strong macro carriers and calculate interference data.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certainillustrative aspects of the specification. These aspects are indicative,however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of thespecification may be employed. Other advantages and novel features ofthe specification will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of the specification when considered in conjunction with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system that facilitates utilization of afemto network, by a user equipment (UE), when a macro network signalquality received at the UE is strong.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example system that can be employed for femtojamming of a macro pilot.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example system that can be employed to facilitateanalysis during femto jamming of a macro carrier signal.

FIG. 4 illustrates timing diagrams that depict power transmitted at afemto access point (AP) and received macro signal quality at a UErespectively, according to an aspect of the subject specification.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example system that facilitates efficientdetection of femtocells by a UE, by employing femto jamming of macronetworks.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example system that facilitates automating one ormore features in accordance with the subject innovation.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example methodology that can be utilized tofacilitate detection of a femto AP by a UE, which can be attached to amacro network that provides ideal radio conditions for UE communication.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example methodology that facilitates jamming of astrong macro carrier signal.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example methodology that facilitates degradationof macro signal quality, such that, a UE attached to the macro networkcan detect a nearby femto network.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example wireless communication environment withassociated components for operation of a femtocell in accordance withthe subject specification.

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic deployment of a macro cell and afemtocell for wireless coverage in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example embodiment of a femto access point thatcan facilitate femto jamming of a macro pilot, according to the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of a computer operable to executethe disclosed communication architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It may be evident,however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without thesespecific details, e.g., without applying to any particular networkedenvironment or standard. In other instances, well-known structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitatedescribing the embodiments in additional detail.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “module,” “system,”“interface,” “platform,” “service,” “framework,” “connector,” or thelike are generally intended to refer to a computer-related entity,either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, orsoftware in execution or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. For example, a component maybe, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, aprocessor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program,and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application runningon a controller and the controller can be a component. One or morecomponents may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and acomponent may be localized on one computer and/or distributed betweentwo or more computers. As another example, an interface can include I/Ocomponents as well as associated processor, application, and/or APIcomponents.

Further, the various embodiments can be implemented as a method,apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosedsubject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein isintended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, carrier, or media. For example, computerreadable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storagedevices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), opticaldisks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD) . . . ),smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive . .. ). Additionally it should be appreciated that a carrier wave can beemployed to carry computer-readable electronic data such as those usedin transmitting and receiving electronic mail or in accessing a networksuch as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Of course, thoseskilled in the art will recognize many modifications can be made to thisconfiguration without departing from the scope or spirit of the variousembodiments.

In addition, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as anexample, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design describedherein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the wordexemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As usedin this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or”rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, orclear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of thenatural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; orX employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under anyof the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” asused in this application and the appended claims should generally beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms like “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “access terminal,” “terminal,” “handset,” “mobiledevice,” and similar terminology, refer to a wireless device utilized bya subscriber or user of a wireless communication service to receive orconvey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially anydata-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoing terms are utilizedinterchangeably in the subject specification and related drawings.Likewise, the terms “access point,” “base station,” “Node B,” “evolvedNode B,” “home Node B (HNB),” and the like, are utilized interchangeablyin the subject application, and refer to a wireless network component orappliance that serves and receives data, control, voice, video, sound,gaming, or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream from a setof subscriber stations. Data and signaling streams can be packetized orframe-based flows. Additionally, the terms “femtocell network”, and“femto network” are utilized interchangeably, while “macro cell network”and “macro network” are utilized interchangeably herein.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” and the likeare employed interchangeably throughout the subject specification,unless context warrants particular distinction(s) among the terms. Itshould be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities orautomated components supported through artificial intelligence (e.g., acapacity to make inference based on complex mathematical formalisms),which can provide simulated vision, sound recognition and so forth. Inaddition, the terms “femtocell access point”, “femtocell” and “femtoaccess point” are also utilized interchangeably.

Traditional femtocells are mainly deployed to improve coverage, forexample, inside a home, office, hotel, etc. where poor macro servicequality is experienced. An ideal macro coverage problem has thereforenot been observed. However, with the rapid growth in femtocelldevelopment, femtocells will be deployed not only in areas with poormacro coverage, but also in areas that have ideal macro coverage. Inthis scenario, a user equipment (UE) within the femto coverage area willnot detect and/or access the femto network due to the ideal macroconditions and thus the femtocell will be unable to provide the UE withanticipated customer and service provider benefits.

The systems and methods disclosed herein facilitate generation ofinterference, by a femto access point (AP), to the nearby UEs camping onmacro carriers, when macro signal quality received at the UEs is ideal.Moreover, the interference can cause macro signal quality to declinearound the immediate vicinity of the femtocell access point (AP).Accordingly, nearby UEs can detect the macro signal quality decline,and, scan and/or detect other frequency bands, including the femtocell.

Aspects, features, or advantages of the subject innovation can beexploited in substantially any wireless communication technology; e.g.,Wi-Fi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), EnhancedGeneral Packet Radio Service (Enhanced GPRS), Third GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), Third GenerationPartnership Project 2 (3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High SpeedPacket Access (HSPA), or Zigbee. Additionally, substantially all aspectsof the subject innovation can be exploited in legacy telecommunicationtechnologies.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there illustrated is an example system100 that facilitates utilization of a femto network, by a user equipment(UE) 102, when a macro network signal quality received at the UE isstrong, according to an aspect of the subject innovation. Typically, theUE 102 as disclosed herein can include most any communication deviceemployed by a subscriber, such as, but not limited to, a cellular phone,a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, a personal computer, amedia player, a gaming console, and the like. Moreover, the UE 102 canaccess a macro network via base station 104. It can be appreciated thatthe macro network can include most any radio environment, such as, butnot limited to, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), LTE, WiFi, WiMAX, CDMA,etc. The signaling and bearer technologies, for example circuit switched(CS), and/or packet switched (PS), in a femtocell and macro cell can bethe same or different, depending on the radio technologies involved.

System 100 can further include a femtocell, served by a femto accesspoint (AP) 106. The femtocell can cover an area that can be determined,at least in part, by transmission power allocated to femto AP 106, pathloss, shadowing, and so forth. According to one aspect, the femto AP 106can include a jamming component 108 that can be employed to facilitatedetection of the femtocell by the UE 102. Typically, UE 102, forexample, communicating with base station 104, can scan carrierfrequencies when the observed macro signal quality falls below aspecified threshold. However, when macro signal quality is greater orequal to the specified threshold, the UE 102 does not scan for alternatecarriers in order to conserve battery life, and thus fails to detectfemto AP 106, even when the UE 102 is within the femto coverage area.

In one embodiment, the jamming component 108 can be utilized to detectthe presence of a nearby UE 102, for example, within the femto coveragearea and determine the macro carrier signal strength between basestation 104 and UE 102. Based in part on the determined macro carriersignal strength, the jamming component 108 can generate a measuredamount of interference. In one aspect, the jamming component 108 canfacilitate transmission of the interference at regular intervals, suchthat, the interference can cause macro signal quality to be less thanideal (e.g., the specified threshold) within the femto coverage area.Accordingly, UE 102 can detect the macro signal quality decline andtrigger a carrier frequency scan. The carrier frequency scan canfacilitate detection of the femto network and the UE 102 can communicatewith the femto AP 106 for attachment. It can be appreciated that theinterference generated by the jamming component 108 can be a minimumamount, such that macro signal quality falls below the specifiedthreshold without degrading or killing macro calls.

Referring to FIG. 2, there illustrated is an example system 200 that canbe employed for femto jamming of a macro pilot in accordance with anaspect of the subject disclosure. Typically, a jamming component 108 canreside within a femto AP, and/or be operatively connected to the femtoAP. It can be appreciated that the jamming component 108 can includefunctionality, as more fully described herein, for example, with regardto system 100.

According to an aspect, the jamming component 108 can include a radioenvironment detection component 202 that can be employed to scan a radioenvironment surrounding and/or near the femto AP. It can be appreciatedthat although the radio environment detection component 202 is depictedto reside within the jamming component 108, the radio environmentdetection component 202 can be operatively connected to the jammingcomponent 108. In one example, when the femtocell is powered on (and/orperiodically, and/or on demand), the radio environment detectioncomponent 202 can turn off a femtocell transmitter and turn on a scanreceiver, which can scan the radio environment near the femtocell.Typically, the scan receiver can identify surrounding macro networkcarriers, including, but not limited to, UMTS carriers, GSM carriers,etc. This procedure can typically be employed by the femtocell forcarrier selection and/or neighbor creation. Further, in one aspect, theradio environment detection component 202 can identify macro carriersthat provide strong or high carrier quality, which is sufficient forsuccessful UE communication. In one aspect, the signal quality and/orsignal strength of the identified macro networks can be compared to ascan trigger threshold, below which a UE performs a carrier frequencyscan. The radio environment detection component 202 can determine one ormore macro carriers that provide a signal quality and/or signal strengthgreater or equal to the scan trigger threshold.

An analysis component 204 can be utilized to determine an amount ofinterference that can be transmitted to degrade the quality of the oneor more macro carriers. For example, the analysis component 204 cananalyze information provided by the radio environment detectioncomponent 202 to identify a macro carrier that can be jammed with theinterference. According to one aspect, the analysis component 204 cancalculate an amount of power utilized by the femtocell to cause macrosignal jamming. Moreover, the analysis component 204 can utilizeinformation, such as but not limited to, signal strength of the macrocarrier and/or scan trigger threshold levels associated with a UE, etc.,to calculate the amount of power utilized. For example, if observedmacro signal strength (e.g., determined by the radio environmentdetection component 202) is “X” db and the scan trigger thresholdemployed by UEs is “Y” db, the amount of interference determined by theanalysis component 204 can be at least “X-Y” db. Typically, a minimumlevel of power can be utilized that can trigger scanning at the UE.

Further, the analysis component 204 can determine a time period when theinterference can be introduced to lower macro signal quality. Accordingto one aspect, the radio environment detection component 202 candetermine the number of UEs that are within a femto coverage area. Theanalysis component 204 can utilize this information to determine when toperform jamming. For example, if there are no UEs within the femtocoverage area, the analysis component 204, can avoid jamming the macrocarrier signal and conserve power. In another example, when thefemtocell is serving a maximum number of UEs, the analysis component204, can avoid jamming the macro carrier signal to prevent overloadingthe femtocell. Further, in another example, when the radio environmentdetection component 202 detects one or more UEs (less than a maximumnumber) that are roaming within the femtocell coverage area, theanalysis component 204 can determine a time period to efficientlyperform jamming without degrading or killing macro communication (e.g.,voice, video or data).

In one embodiment, the jamming component 108 can include (and/or beoperatively connected to) a transmission component 206 that can transmitthe measured amount of interference based in part on informationprovided by the analysis component 204. The transmission component 206can facilitate periodically switching between a femto frequency and amacro frequency based on a timing specified by the analysis component204. For example, the analysis component 204 can determine a switchingtime period based on the dwell time of the femto vs. macro carrier thatcan be optimized such that a scan can be performed at a UE in responseto the transmission. In one aspect, the transmission component 206ensures that the femto AP can transmit on the femto frequency, during apulse, such that a UE within the femtocell coverage area can detect andcamp on to the femtocell. Further, during alternate pulses, thetransmission component 206 ensures that the femto AP can transmit alow-level version of the macro carrier, as determined by the analysiscomponent 204, which can trigger a carrier frequency scan at UE.

In addition, the analysis component 204 can also determine when thetransmission component 206 can facilitate femto pilot gating. Forexample, the analysis component 204 can enable the transmissioncomponent 206 to perform femto pilot gating when the femtocell isservicing a maximum number of UEs, or a UE is not detected within thefemtocell coverage area, etc. Moreover, the transmission component 206can enable a pilot signal transmitter at the femtocell to alternatebetween high and low power (or off) according to a defined duty cycle,sequence and pattern (e.g., defined by the analysis component 204). Thiscan prevent unnecessary interference to femtocell subscribers insurrounding femtocells and/or unnecessary signaling with nearby handsetsunsuccessfully attempting to attach to femto access point(s), andaccordingly conserves battery life and resources. For example, passerbysubscriber stations can perform pilot measurements, or scans, in activemode, e.g., during a call or data session. Fast moving mobiles served bymacro network(s) are substantially less likely to attempt handover to afemto AP with a duty cycle substantially below 100%, e.g., “always-on”operation. Femto AP operation at a nearly-off and/or off powersubstantially mitigates attachment signaling by substantially confiningfemtocell coverage to a smaller area. Reduction of attachment signalingassociated with handover in an active call or data session can reducesignaling system #7 (SS7) signaling load and improve network operation.According to one aspect, the transmission component 206 can enable thefemto AP transmitter to alternate between a high power and an off state,and enable a scan receiver during the off state to scan the radioenvironment surrounding the femto AP. Moreover, the scan receiver canreceive interference measurement during the off cycle that can beemployed by the analysis component 204 to generate an optimalinterference value.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there illustrated is an example system 300 thatcan be employed to facilitate analysis during femto jamming of a macrocarrier signal, according to an aspect of the subject disclosure.Typically, the analysis component 204 can utilize information from theradio environment detection component (FIG. 2, 202) to ascertain a macrochannel and an amount of interference required to trigger UE scanning.For example, the jamming level can be “X” db less than the measuredmacro level, such that “X” must be just enough to trigger scanningwithout degrading or dropping macro calls. It can be appreciated thatthe analysis component 204 can include functionality, as more fullydescribed herein, for example, with regard to system 200.

In one aspect, the analysis component 204 can utilize information from adatabase 302 to perform analysis. It can be appreciated that thedatabase 302 can be most any type of database, and, can be local to thefemto AP, remotely connected to the femto AP, or distributed. Inparticular, the database 302 can store most any information that canenable the analysis component 204 to determine when and/or how toperform femtocell jamming. According to one embodiment, database 302 canstore femtocell parameters 304, such as, but not limited to, maximumnumber of UEs that can be serviced by the femtocell, duty cycle,sequence and/or pattern utilized by a femtocell transmitter duringjamming, etc. Further, database 302 can include user preferences 306that can be defined by a user, for example, a femto AP owner. In oneaspect, the user can define user preferences 306 during an initial setupphase. However, it can be appreciated that the user preferences 306 canbe updated at most any time. Furthermore, the database can include oneor more service provider policies 308 that can be specified by a serviceprovider during provisioning, and/or updated periodically, and/or ondemand by the service provider. The user preferences 306 and/or serviceprovider policies 308 can be utilized by the analysis component 204 tofacilitate selection of a macro carrier, determination of an amount ofinterference, determination of a timing sequence associated withinterference, etc.

It can be appreciated that the database 302 can include volatile memoryor nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatilememory. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memorycan include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM),electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM(EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random accessmemory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way ofillustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such asstatic RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), doubledata rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM(SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). The memory (e.g., data stores,databases) of the subject systems and methods is intended to comprise,without being limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

FIG. 4 illustrates timing diagrams 400 and 402 that depict powertransmitted at a femto AP and received macro signal quality at a UErespectively, according to an aspect of the subject specification. Oneor more embodiments disclosed herein can trigger device scanning inspecific areas otherwise dominated by macro cells only, withouttriggering unnecessary scanning and battery life degradation elsewhere.Specifically, timing diagram 400 illustrates a graph of the femto APtransmitter power vs. time.

Typically, a jamming component (FIG. 2) upon power-up, periodically,and/or on demand, can scan the radio environment to identify whichnearby macro sector carriers are strongest. As discussed supra,measurements received and/or information stored in a database (FIG. 3)can be employed to ascertain a macro channel and an amount ofinterference required to trigger handset scanning. With reference totiming diagram 400, the jamming component (FIG. 2) can ensure that thefemto AP transmitter can transmit the determined level of interference“X” on the identified macro carrier's frequency, during intervals 404_(a), 404 _(b), etc. In addition, the jamming component (FIG. 2) canensure that the femto AP transmitter transmits on femto frequency byutilizing maximum power during alternate intervals 406 _(a), 406 _(b),etc.

Timing diagram 402 illustrates a graph of the macro carrier qualityreceived at a UE vs. time. Moreover, during intervals 404 _(a), 404_(b), etc., the received quality of the macro carrier signal is lowerthan a scan trigger level, due to the interference (X) introduced by thefemtocell transmitter. It can be appreciated that interference X can becalculated (e.g., by the analysis component 204) in a manner such that Xis enough to trigger scanning without degrading or killing macro calls.Since the received macro carrier quality is below the scan triggerlevel, the UE can search for different carrier frequencies, for exampleduring intervals 406 _(a), 406 _(b), etc. Further, since the femto APtransmitter transmits maximum power on femto frequency during intervals406 _(a), 406 _(b), etc., the UE can detect the femto AP, when the UE iswithin the femto coverage area, and perform attachment signaling toaccess the femto network. Accordingly, the subject system allows for thepractical deployment and predictable usage of femtocells in areas wheremacro carrier quality is strong.

The interference X, generated due to femtocell jamming, ensures that thereceived macro carrier quality varies based on the femto AP frequency.Specifically, the UE receives a below ideal quality from the macrocarrier and scans alternate frequency bands. In one aspect, the UE candetect the femto AP and attach to and/or communicate via the femto AP,for example, when the UE is authorized to access the femto AP and/orwhen femtocell coverage is satisfactory. It can be appreciated that timeinterval t₁ and t₂, and/or interference X, can be determined, forexample, by the analysis component (FIG. 2).

Additionally, during intervals 406 _(a), 406 _(b), etc., when the femtoAP is transmitting on its own carrier, the power change from X to Max(or off to Max, in case of femto gating (not shown)), or vice versa, isnot instantaneous. A ramp up period, t_(ramp), can be inserted, forexample, by the transmission component (FIG. 2), to avoid a large amountof interference within a short time interval, which can cause the UE tolose synch with the macro cell. Thus, the power level is graduallyincreased, such that the UE can scan and detect the femto AP, withoutoverloading the receiver of the UE. It can be appreciated that t_(ramp)value can be predetermined, for example, by a service provider, andstored in a database (FIG. 3, 302) accessible to the femto AP. Thet_(ramp) value can also be dynamically adjusted or modified to achievean optimal response at the UE.

Referring to FIG. 5, there illustrated is an example system 500 thatfacilitates efficient detection of femtocells by a UE, by employingfemto jamming of macro networks in accordance with an aspect of thesubject disclosure. According to an aspect, femto AP 106 can scan thesurrounding radio environment (e.g., by utilizing the radio environmentdetection component 202) to identify which macro sector carriers arestrongest. It can be appreciated that the jamming component 108 andfemto AP 106 can include functionality, as more fully described herein,for example, with regard to system 100 and 200.

Further, it can be appreciated that femto AP 106 can be surrounded bymultiple overlapping macro cells, which can utilize the same ofdifferent radio technologies. As an example, shown in FIG. 5, femto AP106 can be in the vicinity of two base stations 502 and 504. The femtoAP 106 can turn off its transmitter, and perform a scan (e.g., byutilizing the radio environment detection component 202) to identifywhich macro sector carriers are strongest. For example, the femto AP 106can determine that the macro signal quality associated with base station502 is above scan threshold of UEs 506 _(1-n) (wherein n can be most anynatural number from one to infinity). Accordingly, jamming component108, can determine a measured amount of interference that can betransmitted to trigger carrier frequency scanning at the UEs 506 _(1-n).

In one example, the jamming component 108 can determine various factorsinvolved in femto jamming, such as, but not limited to, a time periodwhen the interference can be transmitted, a ramp period wherein thefemto transmitter can gradually increase power from the interferencelevel to the maximum power, the number of UEs that are attached to thefemto AP 106, maximum number of UEs that can be serviced by the femto AP106, etc. As an example, a UE 508 can be attached to the femto AP 106.Thus, the jamming component 108 can determine that the femtocell is notoverloaded and accordingly transmit the measured amount of interferenceto the UEs 506 _(1-n). Due to the interference introduced by the jammingcomponent 108, the UEs 506 _(1-n) can detect a decrease in the macrocarrier quality. When the macro carrier quality falls below a scantrigger level, the UEs 506 _(1-n) can scan for disparate carrierfrequencies. Moreover, the UEs 506 _(1-n) can detect the femto AP 106and attempt to attach to the femto access network. The femto AP 106 canallow authorized UEs 506 _(1-n) to connect to the femto access networkbased at least in part on an access list (e.g., a white list). In oneaspect, the femto AP 106 transmitter can return to normal operation assoon as a first UE has successfully attached.

Further, according to one embodiment, the femto AP 106 can employ femtopilot gating during transmission, such that, when the femto AP 106 isidle (e.g., no attached subscribers), the femtocell pilot transmittercan alternate between high and off power states, based on a specifiedduty cycle, sequence and/or pattern. During the off state, the femto AP106 can scan the surrounding radio environment (e.g., by utilizing theradio environment detection component 202) and detect UE 510 connectedto a macro base station 504, which provides a satisfactory macro carriersignal quality for communication. As described supra, the jammingcomponent 108 can create a small and measured amount of interference tothe UE 510, which can be enough to trigger a carrier frequency scan atthe UE 510. The carrier frequency scan performed by the UE 510 enablesthe UE 510 to detect and/or utilize femto AP 106 for communication cell.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example system 600 that employs an artificialintelligence (AI) component 602, which facilitates automating one ormore features in accordance with the subject innovation. It can beappreciated that the femto AP 106 and the jamming component 108 caninclude respective functionality, as more fully described herein, forexample, with regard to systems 100, 200, and 500.

The subject innovation (e.g., in connection with interferencemeasurement) can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying outvarious aspects thereof. For example, a process for determining when orhow to perform jamming of the macro carrier can be facilitated via anautomatic classifier system and process. Moreover, the classifier can beemployed to determine the amount of power that can be utilized forjamming, a time period for transmitting the interference, a ramp up orramp down period, etc.

A classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1,x2, x3, x4, xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, thatis, f(x)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ aprobabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring intothe analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that auser desires to be automatically performed. In the case of communicationsystems, for example, attributes can be information stored in database302, and the classes can be categories or areas of interest (e.g.,levels of priorities).

A support vector machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can beemployed. The SVM operates by finding a hypersurface in the space ofpossible inputs, which the hypersurface attempts to split the triggeringcriteria from the non-triggering events. Intuitively, this makes theclassification correct for testing data that is near, but not identicalto training data. Other directed and undirected model classificationapproaches include, e.g., naïve Bayes, Bayesian networks, decisiontrees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models, and probabilisticclassification models providing different patterns of independence canbe employed. Classification as used herein also is inclusive ofstatistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

As will be readily appreciated from the subject specification, thesubject innovation can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained(e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g.,via observing UE behavior, receiving extrinsic information). Forexample, SVM's are configured via a learning or training phase within aclassifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, theclassifier(s) can be used to automatically learn and perform a number offunctions, including but not limited to determining according to apredetermined criteria when the femtocell is likely to be underutilizedand/or idle, amount of power that can be utilized for jamming, a timeperiod for transmitting the interference, a ramp up or ramp down period,etc. The criteria can include, but is not limited to, historicalpatterns, UE behavior, user preferences, service provider preferencesand/or policies, femto AP parameters, location of the UE, motion of theUE, location of the femtocell, etc.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate methodologies and/or flow diagrams in accordancewith the disclosed subject matter. For simplicity of explanation, themethodologies are depicted and described as a series of acts. It is tobe understood and appreciated that the subject innovation is not limitedby the acts illustrated and/or by the order of acts, for example actscan occur in various orders and/or concurrently, and with other acts notpresented and described herein. Furthermore, not all illustrated actsmay be required to implement the methodologies in accordance with thedisclosed subject matter. In addition, those skilled in the art willunderstand and appreciate that the methodologies could alternatively berepresented as a series of interrelated states via a state diagram orevents. Additionally, it should be further appreciated that themethodologies disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specificationare capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitatetransporting and transferring such methodologies to computers. The termarticle of manufacture, as used herein, is intended to encompass acomputer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier,or media.

Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrated is an example methodology 700 thatcan be utilized to facilitate detection of a femto AP by a UE, which canbe attached to a macro network that provides ideal radio conditions forUE communication, according to an aspect of the subject innovation. Itcan be appreciated that the term “ideal” is used herein, with respect tomacro network coverage and/or macro carrier signal strength, to meanthat the macro carrier signal strength can be strong enough and/orsatisfactory for successful UE communications.

At 702, it can be determined that the femto AP is idle. For example,when no UEs are attached to the femto AP, it can be determined that thefemto AP is idle. Additionally, in one aspect, the utilization of thefemto AP can be considered, for example, it can be determined when thefemto AP is underutilized (e.g., less than maximum number of subscribersare attached to the femto AP). At 704, jamming of a strong macro carriersignal, near the femtocell, can be performed. In one aspect, the jammingincludes detecting a strong macro carrier signal and introducing a smalland measured amount of interference, in a manner such that, the macrocarrier signal quality declines just enough to trigger a carrierfrequency scan at a UE attached to the macro network. Accordingly, theUE can perform a scan for carrier frequencies and detect the femto AP.Moreover, on detection, most any authentication and/or authorizationtechnique can be employed to attach the UE to the femtocell.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example methodology 800 that facilitates jammingof a strong macro carrier signal in accordance with an aspect of thesubject specification. In particular, methodology 800 provides amechanism to trigger quality-based handset scanning in areas where macronetwork coverage is strong and/or satisfactory for handsetcommunication. As an example, the macro network can include most anyradio environment, such as, but not limited to, UMTS, GSM, LTE, WiFi,WiMAX, CDMA, etc.

At 802, the radio environment near a femto AP can be scanned. In oneexample, the scanning can be performed when the femto AP is powered on,periodically at a specified time (e.g., nightly), on demand, and/orduring an OFF cycle in femto gating, etc. Typically, one or moresurrounding macro network carriers can be identified along with theircarrier signal strength and/or quality. At 804 information can beanalyzed, wherein, the information can include the scanned radioenvironment data. In one aspect, the information can further include,but is not limited to, femto AP parameters, UE scan trigger levels, userpreferences, service provider policies, etc. At 806, a strong macrocarrier signal can be identified based on the analysis. In one aspect,the signal quality and/or signal strength of the one or more macronetwork carriers can be compared to a UE scan trigger level. Moreover, amacro carrier signal that has a signal quality and/or signal strengthgreater or equal to the scan trigger threshold can be identified as astrong macro carrier signal.

At 808, an amount of interference that can be transmitted can bedetermined based on the analysis. Moreover, the amount of interferencecan be just enough to trigger a frequency scan at a UE, withoutdegrading or killing communications between the UE and the macronetwork. In one aspect, an amount of power utilized by a femtocelltransmitter to cause macro signal jamming can be determined. Typically,a minimum level of power can be utilized that can trigger scanning atthe UE, such that UE communication is not degraded. At 810, thedetermined amount of interference can be transmitted, for a specifictime period. As an example, the time period can be determined based onthe analysis. Further, a duty cycle, sequence and/or pattern fortransmission can also be determined based on the analysis. In addition,a ramp up and/or ramp down period for switching between macro frequencyand femto frequency can be determined based in part on the analysis.Moreover, the transmission can cause a UE, attached to the macronetwork, to detect a decline in the macro carrier signal quality. Whenthe detected quality falls below a scan trigger level, the UE scans foralternate carrier frequencies and is likely to detect the femto AP. Oncedetected, the UE can attach to, and access the femto network (e.g.,after authorization by the femto AP). A normal femto AP operation canthen be resumed.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example methodology 900 that facilitatesdegradation of macro signal quality such that a UE attached to the macronetwork can detect a nearby femto network, according to an aspect of thesubject disclosure. At 902, it can be determined that a femto AP isidle. At 904, femto pilot gating can be performed, wherein a pilotsignal transmitter at the femtocell can alternate between a high powerand an off state. As an example, a duty cycle, sequence and/or patternfor the gating can be predefined. In one aspect, the femto pilot signalgating avoids unnecessary interference to femtocell subscribers insurrounding femtocells and/or unnecessary signaling with nearby handsetsunsuccessfully attempting to attach to the femto AP.

At 906, radio conditions, for example, surrounding the femto AP can bescanned during the off state of the transmitter to identify one or morestrong macro carriers. As an example, when the transmitter turns off, ascan receiver can be utilized to identify one or more strong macrocarriers near the femto AP. At 908, jamming of the one or moreidentified macro carriers can be performed to decline the macro signalquality received at a UE, for example, to a level that triggers acarrier frequency scan by the UE. Moreover, during the carrier frequencyscan, the UE can detect and attach to the femto AP, based onauthorization from the femto AP. At 910, normal femto AP operation(e.g., no gating or macro jamming) can be resumed when at least one UEsuccessfully attaches to the femtocell.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic wireless environment 1000 (e.g., anetwork) in which a femtocell can exploit various aspects of the subjectinnovation in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. In wirelessenvironment 1000, area 1005 can represent a coverage macro cell, whichcan be served by base station 1010. Macro coverage is generally intendedfor outdoors locations for servicing mobile wireless devices, like UE1020 _(A), and such coverage is achieved via a wireless link 1015. In anaspect, UE 1020 can be a 3GPP Universal Mobile Telecommunication System(UMTS) mobile phone.

Within macro coverage cell 1005, a femtocell 1045, served by a femtoaccess point 1030, can be deployed. A femtocell typically can cover anarea 1025 that is determined, at least in part, by transmission powerallocated to femto AP 1030, path loss, shadowing, and so forth. Coveragearea typically can be spanned by a coverage radius that ranges from 20to 50 meters. Confined coverage area 1045 is generally associated withan indoors area, or a building, which can span about 5000 sq. ft.Generally, femto AP 1030 typically can service a number (e.g., a few ormore) wireless devices (e.g., subscriber station 1020 _(B)) withinconfined coverage area 1045. In an aspect, femto AP 1030 can integrateseamlessly with substantially any PS-based and CS-based network; forinstance, femto AP 1030 can integrate into an existing 3GPP Core viaconventional interfaces like Iu-CS, Iu-PS, Gi, Gn. In another aspect,femto AP 1030 can exploit high-speed downlink packet access in order toaccomplish substantive bitrates. In yet another aspect, femto AP 1030has a LAC (location area code) and RAC (routing area code) that can bedifferent from the underlying macro network. These LAC and RAC are usedto identify subscriber station location for a variety of reasons, mostnotably to direct incoming voice and data traffic to appropriate pagingtransmitters.

As a subscriber station, e.g., UE 1020 _(A), can leave macro coverage(e.g., cell 1005) and enters femto coverage (e.g., area 1015), asillustrated in environment 1000. According to one aspect, the femto AP1030 can perform macro signal jamming, as described above, and declinemacro signal quality received at the UE 1020 _(A). A carrier frequencyscan can be triggered by the UE 1020 _(A), which can detect the femto AP1030. UE 1020 _(A) can attempt to attach to the femto AP 1030 throughtransmission and reception of attachment signaling, effected via a FL/RL1035; in an aspect, the attachment signaling can include a Location AreaUpdate (LAU) and/or Routing Area Update (RAU). Attachment attempts are apart of procedures to ensure mobility, so voice calls and sessions cancontinue even after a macro-to-femto transition or vice versa. It is tobe noted that UE 1020 can be employed seamlessly after either of theforegoing transitions. Femto networks are also designed to servestationary or slow-moving traffic with reduced signaling loads comparedto macro networks. A femto service provider (e.g., an entity thatcommercializes, deploys, and/or utilizes femto AP 1030) therefore can beinclined to minimize unnecessary LAU/RAU signaling activity atsubstantially any opportunity to do so, and through substantially anyavailable means. It is to be noted that substantially any mitigation ofunnecessary attachment signaling/control can be advantageous forfemtocell operation. Conversely, if not successful, UE 1020 generallycan be commanded (through a variety of communication means) to selectanother LAC/RAC or enter “emergency calls only” mode. It is to beappreciated that this attempt and handling process can occupysignificant UE battery, and femto AP capacity and signaling resources aswell.

When an attachment attempt is successful, UE 1020 can be allowed onfemtocell 1025 and incoming voice and data traffic can be paged androuted to the subscriber station through the femto AP 1030. It is to benoted also that data traffic is typically routed through a backhaulbroadband wired network backbone 1040 (e.g., optical fiber backbone,twisted-pair line, T1/E1 phone line, DSL, or coaxial cable). It is to benoted that as a femto AP 1030 generally can rely on a backhaul networkbackbone 1040 for routing and paging, and for packet communication,substantially any quality of service can handle heterogeneous packetizedtraffic. Namely, packet flows established for wireless communicationdevices (e.g., terminals 1020 _(A) and 1020 _(B)) served by femto AP1030, and for devices served through the backhaul network pipe 1040. Itis to be noted that to ensure a positive subscriber experience, orperception, it is desirable for femto AP 1030 to maintain a high levelof throughput for traffic (e.g., voice and data) utilized on a mobiledevice for one or more subscribers while in the presence of external,additional packetized, or broadband, traffic associated withapplications (e.g., web browsing, data transfer (e.g., content upload),and the like) executed in devices within the femto coverage area (e.g.,area 1025 or area 1045).

To provide further context for various aspects of the subjectspecification, FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate, respectively, an examplewireless communication environment 1100, with associated components foroperation of a femtocell, and a block diagram of an example embodiment1200 of a femto access point, which can facilitate macro pilot jammingin accordance with aspects described herein.

Wireless communication environment 1100 includes two wireless networkplatforms: (i) A macro network platform 1110 that serves, or facilitatescommunication) with user equipment 1175 via a macro radio access network(RAN) 1170. It should be appreciated that in cellular wirelesstechnologies (e.g., 3GPP UMTS, HSPA, 3GPP LTE, 3GPP UMB), macro networkplatform 1110 is embodied in a Core Network. (ii) A femto networkplatform 1180, which can provide communication with UE 1175 through afemto RAN 1190 linked to the femto network platform 1180 via backhaulpipe(s) 1185, wherein backhaul pipe(s) are substantially the same abackhaul link 1040. It should be appreciated that femto network platform1180 typically offloads UE 1175 from macro network, once UE 1175attaches (e.g., through macro-to-femto handover, or via a scan ofchannel resources in idle mode) to femto RAN. According to an aspect,the jamming component 108, can generate and transmit a small andmeasured amount of interference that degrades macro signal qualityenough to trigger a carrier frequency scan by UE 1175, which can thendetect and attach to the femto network platform 1180. Further, it can beappreciated that the jamming component 108 can include functionality,more fully described herein, for example, with respect to systems 100,200, 500, and 600.

It is noted that RAN includes base station(s), or access point(s), andits associated electronic circuitry and deployment site(s), in additionto a wireless radio link operated in accordance with the basestation(s). Accordingly, macro RAN 1170 can comprise various coveragecells like cell 1005, while femto RAN 1190 can comprise multiplefemtocell access points. As mentioned above, it is to be appreciatedthat deployment density in femto RAN 1190 is substantially higher thanin macro RAN 1170.

Generally, both macro and femto network platforms 1110 and 1180 caninclude components, e.g., nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, orplatforms, that facilitate both packet-switched (PS) andcircuit-switched (CS) traffic (e.g., voice and data) and controlgeneration for networked wireless communication. For example, macronetwork platform 1110 includes CS gateway node(s) 1112 which caninterface CS traffic received from legacy networks like telephonynetwork(s) 1140 (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), orpublic land mobile network (PLMN)) or a SS7 network 1160. Moreover, CSgateway node(s) 1112 interfaces CS-based traffic and signaling andgateway node(s) 1118.

In addition to receiving and processing CS-switched traffic andsignaling, gateway node(s) 1118 can authorize and authenticate PS-baseddata sessions with served (e.g., through macro RAN) wireless devices.Data sessions can include traffic exchange with networks external to themacro network platform 1110, like wide area network(s) (WANs) 1150; itshould be appreciated that local area network(s) (LANs) can also beinterfaced with macro network platform 1110 through gateway node(s)1118. Gateway node(s) 1118 generates packet data contexts when a datasession is established. It should be further appreciated that thepacketized communication can include multiple flows that can begenerated through server(s) 1114. Macro network platform 1110 alsoincludes serving node(s) 1116 that convey the various packetized flowsof information, or data streams, received through gateway node(s) 1118.It is to be noted that server(s) 1114 can include one or more processorconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of macro networkplatform 1110. To that end, the one or more processor can execute codeinstructions stored in memory 1130, for example.

In example wireless environment 1100, memory 1130 stores informationrelated to operation of macro network platform 1110. Information caninclude business data associated with subscribers; market plans andstrategies, e.g., promotional campaigns, business partnerships;operational data for mobile devices served through macro networkplatform; service and privacy policies; end-user service logs for lawenforcement; and so forth. Memory 1130 can also store information fromat least one of telephony network(s) 1140, WAN(s) 1150, or SS7 network1160.

Femto gateway node(s) 1184 have substantially the same functionality asPS gateway node(s) 1118. Additionally, femto gateway node(s) 1184 canalso include substantially all functionality of serving node(s) 1116. Inan aspect, femto gateway node(s) 1184 facilitates handover resolution,e.g., assessment and execution. Server(s) 1182 have substantially thesame functionality as described in connection with server(s) 1114 andcan include one or more processor configured to confer at least in partthe functionality of macro network platform 1110. To that end, the oneor more processor can execute code instructions stored in memory 1186,for example.

Memory 1186 can include information relevant to operation of the variouscomponents of femto network platform 1180. For example operationalinformation that can be stored in memory 1186 can comprise, but is notlimited to, subscriber information; contracted services; maintenance andservice records; femtocell configuration (e.g., devices served throughfemto RAN 1190; access control lists, or white lists); service policiesand specifications; privacy policies; add-on features; and so forth

With respect to FIG. 12, in example embodiment 1200, femtocell AP 1210can receive and transmit signal(s) (e.g., traffic and control signals)from and to wireless devices, access terminals, wireless ports androuters, etc., through a set of antennas 1269 ₁-1269 _(N). It should beappreciated that while antennas 1269 ₁-1269 _(N) are a part ofcommunication platform 1225, which comprises electronic components andassociated circuitry that provides for processing and manipulating ofreceived signal(s) (e.g., a packet flow) and signal(s) (e.g., abroadcast control channel) to be transmitted. In an aspect,communication platform 1225 includes a transmitter/receiver (e.g., atransceiver) 1266 that can convert signal(s) from analog format todigital format upon reception, and from digital format to analog formatupon transmission. In addition, receiver/transmitter 1266 can divide asingle data stream into multiple, parallel data streams, or perform thereciprocal operation. Coupled to transceiver 1266 is amultiplexer/demultiplexer 1267 that facilitates manipulation of signalin time and frequency space. Electronic component 1267 can multiplexinformation (data/traffic and control/signaling) according to variousmultiplexing schemes such as time division multiplexing (TDM), frequencydivision multiplexing (FDM), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM), code division multiplexing (CDM), space division multiplexing(SDM). In addition, mux/demux component 1267 can scramble and spreadinformation (e.g., codes) according to substantially any code known inthe art; e.g., Hadamard-Walsh codes, Baker codes, Kasami codes,polyphase codes, and so on. A modulator/demodulator 1268 is also a partof operational group 1225, and can modulate information according tomultiple modulation techniques, such as frequency modulation, amplitudemodulation (e.g., M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), with M apositive integer), phase-shift keying (PSK), and the like.

Femto access point 1210 also includes a processor 1245 configured toconfer functionality, at least partially, to substantially anyelectronic component in the femto access point 1210, in accordance withaspects of the subject innovation. In particular, processor 1245 canfacilitate femto AP 1210 to implement configuration instructionsreceived through communication platform 1225, which can include storingdata in memory 1255. In addition, processor 1245 facilitates femto AP1210 to process data (e.g., symbols, bits, or chips) formultiplexing/demultiplexing, such as effecting direct and inverse fastFourier transforms, selection of modulation rates, selection of datapacket formats, inter-packet times, etc. Moreover, processor 1245 canmanipulate antennas 1269 ₁-1269 _(N) to facilitate beamforming orselective radiation pattern formation, which can benefit specificlocations (e.g., basement, home office . . . ) covered by femto AP; andexploit substantially any other advantages associated with smart-antennatechnology. Memory 1255 can store data structures, code instructions,system or device information like device identification codes (e.g.,IMEI, MSISDN, serial number . . . ) and specification such as multimodecapabilities; code sequences for scrambling; spreading and pilottransmission, floor plan configuration, access point deployment andfrequency plans; and so on. Moreover, memory 1255 can storeconfiguration information such as schedules and policies; femto APaddress(es) or geographical indicator(s); access lists (e.g., whitelists); license(s) for utilization of add-features for femto AP 1210,and so forth.

In embodiment 1200, processor 1245 is coupled to the memory 1255 inorder to store and retrieve information necessary to operate and/orconfer functionality to communication platform 1225, broadband networkinterface 1235 (e.g., a broadband modem), and other operationalcomponents (e.g., multimode chipset(s), power supply sources . . . ; notshown) that support femto access point 1210. The femto AP 1210 canfurther include a jamming component 108, which can includefunctionality, as more fully described herein, for example, with regardto systems 100, 200, 500, and 600. In addition, it is to be noted thatthe various aspects disclosed in the subject specification can also beimplemented through (i) program modules stored in a computer-readablestorage medium or memory (e.g., memory 1186 or memory 1255) and executedby a processor (e.g., processor 1245), or (ii) other combination(s) ofhardware and software, or hardware and firmware.

Referring now to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputer operable to execute the disclosed communication architecture.In order to provide additional context for various aspects of thesubject specification, FIG. 13 and the following discussion are intendedto provide a brief, general description of a suitable computingenvironment 1300 in which the various aspects of the specification canbe implemented. While the specification has been described above in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions that can run on oneor more computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that thespecification also can be implemented in combination with other programmodules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated aspects of the specification can also be practiced indistributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

A computer typically includes a variety of computer-readable media.Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby the computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable media can comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile andnonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any methodor technology for storage of information such as computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computerstorage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flashmemory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD)or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium which can be used to store the desired information and which canbe accessed by the computer.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the anyof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

With reference again to FIG. 13, the example environment 1300 forimplementing various aspects of the specification includes a computer1302, the computer 1302 including a processing unit 1304, a systemmemory 1306 and a system bus 1308. The system bus 1308 couples systemcomponents including, but not limited to, the system memory 1306 to theprocessing unit 1304. The processing unit 1304 can be any of variouscommercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and othermulti-processor architectures can also be employed as the processingunit 1304.

The system bus 1308 can be any of several types of bus structure thatcan further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 1306includes read-only memory (ROM) 1310 and random access memory (RAM)1312. A basic input/output system (BIOS) is stored in a non-volatilememory 1310 such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basicroutines that help to transfer information between elements within thecomputer 1302, such as during start-up. The RAM 1312 can also include ahigh-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 1302 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)1314 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive 1314 can also beconfigured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), amagnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 1316, (e.g., to read from or write to aremovable diskette 1318) and an optical disk drive 1320, (e.g., readinga CD-ROM disk 1322 or, to read from or write to other high capacityoptical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive 1314, magnetic diskdrive 1316 and optical disk drive 1320 can be connected to the systembus 1308 by a hard disk drive interface 1324, a magnetic disk driveinterface 1326 and an optical drive interface 1328, respectively. Theinterface 1324 for external drive implementations includes at least oneor both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 interfacetechnologies. Other external drive connection technologies are withincontemplation of the subject specification.

The drives and their associated computer-readable media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 1302, the drives and mediaaccommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to aHDD, a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media suchas a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of media which are readable by a computer, such as zipdrives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and thelike, can also be used in the example operating environment, andfurther, that any such media can contain computer-executableinstructions for performing the methods of the specification.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 1312,including an operating system 1330, one or more application programs1332, other program modules 1334 and program data 1336. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 1312. It is appreciated that the specification can beimplemented with various commercially available operating systems orcombinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1302 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 1338 and apointing device, such as a mouse 1340. Other input devices (not shown)can include a microphone, an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad,a stylus pen, touch screen, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 1304 through an input deviceinterface 1342 that is coupled to the system bus 1308, but can beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 1344 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 1308 via an interface, such as a video adapter 1346. Inaddition to the monitor 1344, a computer typically includes otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 1302 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1348. The remotecomputer(s) 1348 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer1302, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device1350 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted includewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 1352 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 1354. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1302 isconnected to the local network 1352 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 1356. The adapter 1356 canfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 1352, which canalso include a wireless access point disposed thereon for communicatingwith the wireless adapter 1356.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1302 can includea modem 1358, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN1354, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN1354, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 1358, which can beinternal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to thesystem bus 1308 via the serial port interface 1342. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 1302, orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1350. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexample and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

The computer 1302 is operable to communicate with any wireless devicesor entities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., aprinter, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable dataassistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or locationassociated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand,restroom), and telephone. This includes at least Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefinedstructure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoccommunication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, allows connection to the Internet from acouch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work,without wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in acell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send andreceive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a basestation. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b,g, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. AWi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to theInternet, and to wired networks (which use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet).Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, atan 11 Mbps (802.11a) or 54 Mbps (802.11b) data rate, for example, orwith products that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks canprovide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wiredEthernet networks used in many offices.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures suchas, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors,switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhanceperformance of user equipment. A processor may also be implemented as acombination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “data store,” data storage,”“database,” and substantially any other information storage componentrelevant to operation and functionality of a component, refer to “memorycomponents,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or components comprisingthe memory. It will be appreciated that the memory components, orcomputer-readable storage media, described herein can be either volatilememory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory.

By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory caninclude read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electricallyprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flashmemory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), whichacts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and notlimitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), anddirect Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory componentsof systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without beinglimited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

What has been described above includes examples of the presentspecification. It is, of course, not possible to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing the present specification, but one of ordinary skill in theart may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of thepresent specification are possible. Accordingly, the presentspecification is intended to embrace all such alterations, modificationsand variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used ineither the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended tobe inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

1. A system that facilitates detection of a femto access point (AP) by auser equipment (UE) attached to a macro network that provides a macrocarrier signal quality for successful UE communication, comprising: ajamming component that facilitates transmission of a measured amount ofinterference to the UE, the measured amount of interference triggers acarrier frequency scan at the UE.
 2. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising, a radio environment detection component that scans a radioenvironment near the femto AP to determine the macro carrier signalquality associated with the macro network.
 3. The system of claim 1,further comprising, an analysis component that determines the measuredamount of interference, which degrades the macro carrier signal qualitybelow a scan trigger level without degrading the UE communication. 4.The system of claim 3, wherein the analysis component determines a timeperiod when the measured amount of interference is transmitted based inpart on an analysis of information stored in a database.
 5. The systemof claim 3, further comprising, a database that stores information,which enables the analysis component to determine at least one of whenor how to transmit the measured amount of interference.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the information includes at least one of a femtocellparameter, a user preference, or a service provider policy.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising, a transmission component thattransmits the measured amount of interference over a macro frequencyassociated with the macro network.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thetransmission component facilitates periodic switching betweentransmission on a femto frequency and the macro frequency based in parton a specified timing.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein thetransmission component facilitates femto pilot gating by alternatingbetween a high power state and an off state during transmission on afemto frequency and enables interference measurements during the offstate.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an artificialintelligence component that automatically determines at least one of themeasured amount of interference, a time period for transmitting themeasured amount of interference, or a ramp period utilized to graduallyincrease transmission power during femto jamming of a macro carrier, byutilizing one or more machine learning techniques.
 11. A method thatfacilitates femto jamming of a macro carrier, comprising: identifyingone or more strong macro carrier signals near a femto access point (AP),the one or more strong macro carrier signals provide a macro carriersignal quality for successful user equipment (UE) communication; andtransmitting a measured amount of interference over one or more macrocarrier frequencies of the one or more strong macro carrier signals todegrade the macro carrier signal quality below a threshold.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising, scanning a radio environmentnear the femto AP at least to determine the macro carrier signalquality.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, calculating themeasured amount of interference based in part on information receivedduring the scanning.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising,transmitting alternately over a femto frequency associated with thefemto AP and over one or more macro frequencies associated with the oneor more strong macro carrier signals, based in part on a specifiedtiming.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, at least one ofgradually increasing or decreasing transmission power duringtransmission over the femto frequency to avoid overloading a receiver ofa UE.
 16. The method of claim 11, further comprising, performing femtopilot gating by alternating between a high power state and an off stateduring transmission on a femto frequency; and scanning a radioenvironment near the femto AP to facilitate interference measurementsduring the off state.
 17. The method of claim 11 further comprising,resuming a normal femtocell operation when at least one UE attaches tothe femto AP.
 18. A system that enables femto jamming of a macrocarrier, comprising: means for scanning a radio environment around afemto AP to identify a macro network carrier that provides a macrocarrier signal quality greater than a threshold; and means fordetermining an amount of interference transmitted over a macro frequencyof the identified macro network carrier to degrade the macro carriersignal quality below the threshold.
 19. The system of claim 18, furthercomprising, means for transmitting the determined amount of interferenceover the macro frequency based in part on a specified timing.
 20. Thesystem of claim 18, further comprising, means for receiving aninterference measurement during an off cycle of a transmission from thefemto AP that employs femto pilot gating.